Special Assignments
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Boris Akunin |
| Products | Historical detective novellas |
Special Assignments: The Further Adventures of Erast Fandorin (Russian Особые поручения) is a 2007 publication by Russian writer Boris Akunin, containing two historical detective novellas featuring the character Erast Fandorin: The Jack of Spades (Russian Пиковый валет) and The Decorator (Russian Декоратор). Initially released in Russian in 1999, this work caters to enthusiasts of historical mystery literature.
"The Jack of Spades"
Set in Moscow during 1886, four years subsequent to The Death of Achilles, Fandorin remains the Deputy for Special Assignments under Governor Prince Dolgurukoi. Residing with the married Countess Addy, he is assigned to apprehend a swindler named Momos, also known as "The Jack of Spades," who defrauded the Prince out of one hundred thousand rubles. To aid his investigation, Fandorin recruits the young policeman Anisii Tulipov.
Fandorin uncovers a sham lottery orchestrated by Momos, yet the criminals manage to evade capture. When Momos steals Addy’s luggage through Fandorin’s servant Masa, Fandorin retaliates by masquerading as an Indian prince possessing a precious emerald. Although Momos escapes again, Mimi—his accomplice—briefly romances Tulipov. After Momos returns Addy’s belongings, Fandorin arranges for her return to her husband.
Planning to leave Moscow, Momos instead attempts to rob the corrupt official Samson Eropkin. The heist fails; both Momos and Mimi are caught and nearly killed until Fandorin intervenes, leading to Eropkin’s arrest. Due to insufficient evidence, Fandorin releases Momos to protect Prince Dolgurukoi’s reputation. Mimi faces trial for the fraudulent lottery, facing imprisonment and possible exile to Siberia. Tulipov hopes to marry her after her release, but Momos, disguised as her lawyer, coerces the judge into dropping charges. Tulipov watches helplessly as Momos and Mimi depart together.
This novella’s lighthearted comedic style sharply contrasts with the darker tone found in The Decorator.
"The Decorator"
Set in Moscow in 1889 shortly before Easter, the story opens with the brutal murder and mutilation of a prostitute. Fandorin suspects the perpetrator is Jack the Ripper, the infamous English serial killer who targeted prostitutes in London the previous year. Early in the narrative, focus shifts to the murderer himself, who calls himself The Decorator and believes he transforms unattractive women into beauty. His internal reflections periodically interrupt the storyline.
Court Counsellor Izhitsin, an investigative rival of Fandorin, oversees exhumations at Bozhedomka cemetery alongside Fandorin's assistant Tulipov. Tulipov befriends Pakhomenko, a Ukrainian cemetery watchman. Coroner Dr. Zakharov identifies four additional victims believed to be targets of Moscow’s ripper. Tulipov reports these findings to Fandorin, whose devout Russian Orthodox girlfriend Angelina lives with him.
Fandorin investigates recent arrivals from London with medical backgrounds and narrows suspects down to two: Nesvitskaya, a midwife, and Stenich, a male nurse—both expelled from medical school seven years prior. Soon after, Fandorin receives a grisly package containing a severed human ear.
Tulipov conducts covert interviews with the suspects. Fandorin matches the ear with one victim and confronts Zakharov, who hints that the murderer will attend a reunion of former medical students that evening. The gathering is hosted by businessman Burylin, who was expelled alongside Stenich and Zakharov (now coroner) for pranks; their leader Sotsky died in prison after being punished for accidentally killing a prostitute. Burylin confesses to sending the ear as a prank and is detained.
Tulipov joins forces with Izhitsin, who suspects either a Tatar or Jewish butcher and plans harsh interrogations. Tulipov informs him about Fandorin’s three suspects; Izhitsin proposes taking them to the morgue in an attempt to elicit confessions—none confess. Tulipov then discovers that undercover Fandorin is posing as a pimp and learns of Izhitsin's plan; subsequently he finds that Izhitsin has been murdered by The Decorator.
On Good Friday, Count Tolstoy, Minister for Internal Affairs from St. Petersburg, arrives threatening to dismiss Prince Dolgurukoi if the killer remains at large by Easter. Revisiting the graveyard, Tulipov suddenly deduces the identity of the murderer. While pursuing this lead, The Decorator kills Tulipov’s sister Sonya at their home. Later, Tulipov succumbs to injuries inflicted by The Decorator after confronting Zakharov at the cemetery.
Fandorin discovers Zakharov has vanished but interviews Pakhomenko. Zakharov calls claiming innocence and arranges a meeting with Fandorin and Masa at a hotel. Meanwhile, The Decorator attempts to murder Angelina at Fandorin’s residence but is overpowered by Fandorin and Masa—who had missed the hotel rendezvous.
The murderer is unmasked as Pakhomenko—the seemingly friendly watchman—whose true identity is Sotsky, leader of the expelled medical pranksters. Fandorin intends to kill Sotsky but is interrupted by Angelina’s arrival; instead they hold an impromptu trial with her presiding as judge. Sotsky admits escaping prison, emigrating to London before returning to Moscow where he worked at the cemetery through Zakharov’s assistance prior to killing Zakharov and impersonating him via phone calls.
Angelina finds Sotsky guilty; Fandorin shoots him outside. Afterwards she announces her decision to leave Fandorin and enter a convent, believing she impedes his work. Despite his devastation, she insists as Easter bells toll: "It’s all right. Do you hear? Christ is risen."
Structure
In Special Assignments, Akunin once again employs a narrative technique that presents Fandorin's tales through the eyes of characters other than Fandorin himself. "The Jack of Spades" unfolds from the perspectives of Tulipov and Momos, while "The Decorator" is mainly narrated by Tulipov, offering a glimpse into the mindset of the murderer.
Literary significance and criticism
According to Akunin, the debut Fandorin novel, The Winter Queen, initially sold only around six thousand copies within Russia in 1998. The next three installments experienced comparable sales figures. Nevertheless, with the release of Special Assignments, the fifth novel in the series, it achieved bestseller status, which in turn propelled all earlier Fandorin books to bestseller recognition and greatly enhanced Akunin’s reputation throughout Russia.
Historical accuracy
In "The Decorator", Fandorin refers to Jack the Ripper as having murdered eight women, contrasting with the widely accepted total of five victims. Akunin broadens this count by incorporating possible additional victims such as Emma Smith, Martha Tabram, and Rose Millet.
External links
- Full Russian texts of The Jack of Spades and The Decorator available on Boris Akunin’s official website
- Review published in The Guardian
- Shotsmag review
- The First Post review
- Review from the Daily Telegraph